KOLKATA: The stampede at the Chorbagan Sarvajanin Durga Puja pandal that claimed 19 lives on Saturday has brought the organisers under scrutiny, raising questions over crowd management, security lapses and the change in the puja committee following the BJP’s rise to power in West Bengal.
The tragedy has also triggered a political controversy, with the Trinamul Congress questioning the role of BJP leaders associated with the committee and demanding action against those responsible.
Jayanta Banerjee, who played a key role in making Chorbagan one of Kolkata’s prominent Durga Puja destinations, was a close friend of Kartik Banerjee, brother of former chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Following the change of government, Jayanta stepped aside and the committee’s management passed into the hands of BJP leaders, reportedly following demands from local residents.
North Kolkata district BJP president Tamaghna Ghosh became the chief adviser, while Jorasanko BJP MLA Vijay Ojha took over as chairman. Debdeep Adhikari, whom the Trinamul Congress has linked to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s family, was named chief patron.
After the Trinamul lost power, Jayanta reportedly tried to retain control of the puja. A mural depicting Prime Minister Narendra Modi performing aarti to Goddess Durga was painted on the clubhouse wall, but the move failed to help him retain control.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation subsequently demolished the clubhouse structure following allegations of encroachment.
The change in management also led to a dispute over khuti puja, the ceremonial ritual marking the beginning of Durga Puja preparations. Jayanta had performed the ritual before relinquishing control, but the new committee held another ceremony, alleging that Sanatan Dharma had been insulted during the earlier ritual. Senior BJP councillor Meena Devi Purohit attended the second ceremony.
The new committee also replaced artist Subrata Mridha with Sushanta Pal, whose installation, themed Arob or Beyond Sound, attracted considerable attention. The theme, centred on the idea of silence beyond words, helped draw large crowds to the pandal.
However, the stampede on Saptami evening has raised serious questions over arrangements for managing visitors in the narrow lane leading to the pandal.
According to local residents, heavy rain prompted visitors to rush inside for shelter, while those already inside struggled to leave through a congested exit. The other entrance allegedly remained open, allowing more people to enter.
Residents said the uneven pathway and steps near the exit further obstructed movement. Some visitors reportedly fell amid the rush, triggering a chain reaction.
Eyewitnesses alleged that adequate police personnel and organisers were not present when the situation deteriorated. These allegations are yet to be independently established.
The tragedy has also raised questions over whether adequate safety checks, crowd-control arrangements and emergency access provisions were in place before the festival.
Trinamul leader Kunal Ghosh alleged that the previous puja committee had been forced to resign and posted the names of the new committee members on social media.
Questioning the involvement of the Chief Minister’s family in the committee, Ghosh asked, “When is Suvendu Babu putting the criminal nephew in jail?” He also demanded the arrest of MLA Vijay Ojha and BJP leader Tamaghna Ghosh.
Responding to questions about the alleged takeover of the puja committee, BJP state president Shamik Bhattacharya said, “I do not have the power to give any political response now.”
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
